Inter strengthened command of Serie A with a controlled 1-0 win over Udinese at Bluenergy Stadium, pulling six points clear. Lautaro Martinez struck in the 20th minute for a crucial 11th league goal. AC Milan play on Sunday, so Inter’s victory increased pressure on the city rivals.
The match followed a clear pattern. Inter created more chances, limited Udinese’s threat, yet missed opportunities to extend the score. Udinese managed only five shots and produced 0.5 expected goals. Inter took 14 attempts, worth 1.56 expected goals, underlining that the margin felt narrower than the performance.
The winning goal again highlighted the growing understanding between Francesco Pio Esposito and Martinez. Esposito received the ball near the edge of the box.
A deft lay-off released Martinez, who prodded a composed finish into the bottom-right corner, giving Maduka Okoye little chance and putting Inter firmly in front.
That combination continues a clear trend. All three of Esposito’s Serie A assists this season have been finished by Martinez. No other player has set up a single team-mate more often in the current league campaign, with only Aaron Martin feeding Leo Ostigard also reaching three such combinations.
Inter started sharply. In the fourth minute, Okoye denied Martinez from close range. Soon after, Federico Dimarco met a Nicolo Barella cross with a fierce volley that flew just wide of the right post. Martinez had earlier headed off target before finally finding the net midway through the opening half.
Cristian Chivu’s team kept pressing before the interval. Dimarco forced another smart save from Okoye as Inter stayed on the front foot. Udinese struggled to build sustained attacks, while Inter’s structure off the ball restricted space between the lines and allowed very few clear opportunities.
After the break, Inter nearly doubled the advantage when Thomas Kristensen made an early error in defence. Henrikh Mkhitaryan seized on the loose ball, yet Okoye reacted well and pushed the shot aside. Inter then found it harder to carve out major chances, though Udinese still rarely troubled the defence.
| Team | Goals | Shots | Expected Goals (xG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter | 1 | 14 | 1.56 |
| Udinese | 0 | 5 | 0.5 |
Inter’s defensive control continued a strong league run. The Nerazzurri are now unbeaten in nine Serie A matches. Their last longer sequence came between September 2024 and February 2025, when they went 17 games without defeat, underlining consistent form at the top of the table.
SABATO E TRE PUNTI BUONA DOMENICA INTERISTIpic.twitter.com/2U3BW0HqhAInter(@Inter) January 17, 2026
The 1-0 scoreline meant Inter could not relax, yet the performance justified the result. With a higher xG total, more shots and a strong defensive structure, Chivu’s side managed the contest efficiently and ensured the gap over AC Milan increased, strengthening their current Serie A title position.
